Middle classes use more charities than those on lowest incomes

The middle classes use more charities than
those on the lowest income, research has found.

Those earning over £55,000 are more likely to
use a larger variety of charities than those with incomes of less
than £14,000.

Higher income earners used four charities on
average in the past year while those with lower incomes used less
than three.

The research from the Charities Aid Foundation
reveals how much we all depend on charities in our everyday
lives.

Eight in ten people (79%) have used a charity
in the last 12 months and almost half of us (47%) feel charities
are central or make a difference to our lives, even if we wouldn’t
struggle without them.

Families with children over the age of 11 are
most likely to have used a charity within the last 12 months with
nine out of ten (89%) having done so.

A third of lone parents say they would
struggle without the charity help they receive.

Charity shops are the most popular way to
benefit from charity, with more than six in ten of us buying
something in the last 12 months.

More than a third of people say they have
visited a museum, art gallery, garden or stately home run by a
charity.

One in ten of us have attended counselling
sessions or support groups provided by a charity and 18 per cent
have used a charity-run community centre.

In the past year, around one in six of us have
sought advice from a charity helpline or found information on a
charity website.

Deborah Fairclough, head of research at the
Charities Aid Foundation, said: ‘’This research shows how deeply
charities are woven into the fabric of our lives in this
country.

‘’We support them and rely on them, from
buying items in charity shops to help the causes close to our
hearts to seeking advice from charities on a whole range of
issues.

‘’Many of us don’t even realise we’re using a
charity, but even a trip to a National Trust property or a visit to
a museum can be thanks to the wonderful work of charities in the
UK.’’

Give and Take: A nation of charity lovers in numbers

30m (61%) have purchased an
item from a charity shop17m (34%) have visited a charity-run gallery,
museum, garden or stately home9m (18%) have visited a community centre run by a
charity or voluntary organisation8m (16%) have sought advice from a charity or
information from a charity website6m (13%) have attended a community, youth or
voluntary group or attended an event hosted by them5m (10%) have watched or participated in a theatre
production, event or arts-related programme run by a charity5m (10%) have attended counselling, a support
group or received mental health support2m (4%) receive ongoing support and care from a
charity

The online poll of 2,070 GB adults aged 18+
was conducted by Populus for the Charities Aid Foundation and the
Institute for Public Policy Research in July 2014.

Figures are an estimation based on the
proportion of people reporting to have used a charity in the
previous 12 months for each activity.